What Used tracked skid steer/CTL to get???

[Garrett2006]

What痴 the best used tracked skid steer/CTL for someone that痴 very experienced on tractor work, but looking to add a skid steer to the Arsenal & only played on a couple here and there. Will best used for grading yards, driveways and pushing dirt. Also, looking to use it for mulching later on down the road once I can get my heads on a mulching head. So, I know I need a high flow unit. What痴 the best and strongest for someone starting out with one. Thanks

 

[searcyfarms]

if you have plans for mulching, get the biggest u can get and in high flow

kubota/takeuchi/bobcat/cat i think mustang/takeuchi and maybe gehl come from the some company but diff specs

 

[4570Man]

A Kubota is the only tracked machine I have any experience with. I love the Kubota and honestly can’t think of anything I would do different and that’s rare. On the list of things I would NOT own is foot pedal controls, a cab door that hinges outward, and electric controls. The Kubota has none of those. I ran a fairy new Deere wheeled skid steer and the first thing I noticed was the rear visibility was the best I’d ever experienced and the front visibility was the worst I’d ever experienced. If I was looking to buy one I’d narrow down the brands I didn’t like and search from the remaining models for the best deal.

 

[searcyfarms]

A Kubota is the only tracked machine I have any experience with. I love the Kubota and honestly can’t think of anything I would do different and that’s rare. On the list of things I would NOT own is foot pedal controls, a cab door that hinges outward, and electric controls. The Kubota has none of those. I ran a fairy new Deere wheeled skid steer and the first thing I noticed was the rear visibility was the best I’d ever experienced and the front visibility was the worst I’d ever experienced. If I was looking to buy one I’d narrow down the brands I didn’t like and search from the remaining models for the best deal.

think about your CAB door situation, if the cab door gets caught in the half up/down position how do you get out? my neighbor was trapped in his, could not fit out thru the front glass above/under/through the door frame when it came off the track, NEW kubota and i had my kubota rental 75-2 machine blow the front glass out while it was up and i was running it when the chassis evidently twisted enough going over a curb wall on a basement and the window burst sending shards of glass down my neck and all inside my clothes in my hair etc......

next my neighbor had to remove the back window and crawl up/out of the kubota he was using - it look him a while to do all that - for me when my SS caught on fire, it was an engine fire which in that case means if my neighbor had to get out that way, he would have burned up likely since he couldnt get out the front and or burned badly trying to get out the back window.

I was able to launch through the front door of mine, taking out the glass and landing on the brush mower on mine - thank god !!!!

I do not like the roll up design for that reason - i will take a bent door or have to lower the arms to get the door open any day vs burning alive or getting glass rained on me

Kubota has nicer interior and more refined machine, takeuchi has better hydraulic controls/feel from my experience and an all out workhorse

 

[4570Man]

The loader has to be all the way up or all the way down to get out with the hinged door. Unless you have a hammer you’re still trapped inside. For glass to get rained down on you you’re operating with the door up, something that’s not possible with the hinged door.

 

[RickB]

think about your CAB door situation, if the cab door gets caught in the half up/down position how do you get out? my neighbor was trapped in his, could not fit out thru the front glass above/under/through the door frame when it came off the track, NEW kubota and i had my kubota rental 75-2 machine blow the front glass out while it was up and i was running it when the chassis evidently twisted enough going over a curb wall on a basement and the window burst sending shards of glass down my neck and all inside my clothes in my hair etc......

next my neighbor had to remove the back window and crawl up/out of the kubota he was using - it look him a while to do all that - for me when my SS caught on fire, it was an engine fire which in that case means if my neighbor had to get out that way, he would have burned up likely since he couldnt get out the front and or burned badly trying to get out the back window.

I was able to launch through the front door of mine, taking out the glass and landing on the brush mower on mine - thank god !!!!

I do not like the roll up design for that reason - i will take a bent door or have to lower the arms to get the door open any day vs burning alive or getting glass rained on me

Kubota has nicer interior and more refined machine, takeuchi has better hydraulic controls/feel from my experience and an all out workhorse

You can sit around and dream up what ifs all day. Wrecking a conventional ssl door will spoil well over a grand. I can think of several scenarios where an operator can be trapped in that style as well.
If God wants to call you today, you will go.

 

[searcyfarms]

true if its your day its your day but i will take my chances with a front swing open door - not sure how you could get stuck in there when the glass pops right out ;-)

 

[4570Man]

I’m glad you like them but I’d take the dang thing off before I had one. I was using the Kubota today to lift a pallet of cement bags up to mixer height and holding it there. Before that I had to lift a pallet of flooring up to a deck door for moving inside the house but I didn’t want to set the load on the deck. Good luck doing either of those things with a hinge door. This whole “problem” could easily be solved by mounting a window breaker in the cab.

 

[Corkpuller]

3 letters

C A T

 

[4570Man]

3 letters

C A T

Instead of random brand biased how about some reasons why Cat is better than the others.

 

[Tomtint]

Another thing to look for is a high flow machine. It opens up the list of attachments you are able to run.

 

[RickB]

A

Another thing to look for is a high flow machine. It opens up the list of attachments you are able to run.

Clearly stated by the OP.

 

[searcyfarms]

I知 glad you like them but I壇 take the dang thing off before I had one. I was using the Kubota today to lift a pallet of cement bags up to mixer height and holding it there. Before that I had to lift a pallet of flooring up to a deck door for moving inside the house but I didn稚 want to set the load on the deck. Good luck doing either of those things with a hinge door. This whole 菟roblem could easily be solved by mounting a window breaker in the cab.

id rather have one with A/C i take my door off in the summer cause i only have a heated cab - some day maybe !!!!

my neighbor couldnt get out even if the glass was broken because of the half open/shut door frame on the kubota w or w/out glass in it.

I do carry a hammer inside mine for beating dirt/mud off things but when i had the fire i never even thot about my hammer i only thot about getting out quickly because i couldnt breath in all the smoke

 

[RickB]

There are people that have been killed by seat belts. Does not mean they should be abandoned. There is always an outlier, and always a champion for that occurrence.

 

[searcyfarms]

regarding seat belts, i always wear one in my equipment as well as have added to my 5088, wear it on my CUT also and glad i had it on a few weeks ago, you can see my thread here about that and my 2038R failure - lost an uncle to not having one on and falling out of his cab door on his tractor and was eaten by his baler ( no i am not kidding about this ) - some may say it was his time but if he had been wearing a seat belt he likely would not have fallen out of the door - to each his own and preference, we all have our reasons but for me im going with statistics and experience - those things make a huge impact on our perspective - knowledge and wisdom are two different things

 

[searcyfarms]

What痴 the best used tracked skid steer/CTL for someone that痴 very experienced on tractor work, but looking to add a skid steer to the Arsenal & only played on a couple here and there. Will best used for grading yards, driveways and pushing dirt. Also, looking to use it for mulching later on down the road once I can get my heads on a mulching head. So, I know I need a high flow unit. What痴 the best and strongest for someone starting out with one. Thanks

Back to the original question - if its going to be a while before you get a mulcher head - i would recommend starting out with a smaller machine because you wont want a giant machine you will use for yards/driveways/grading like you will for mulching.

Yes a CTL is far better for yards/grading/flat dirt work - also if you plan on loading a lot of dump trucks look at the differences in a radial vs vertical lift - keep in mind they are also more $$ to purchase as well as to maintain for a starting business - its difficult to find a perfect sized machine but something in the mid range of hp and weight would be best for yards/drives/pushing dirt not to mention agility and getting around easier with the least amount of residual damage to work area.

dont be disillusioned by a CTL not tearing up a yard, they will tear up a yard just liek a wheel machine - you have to make wide sweeping turns with either to keep from making more damage, a tracked machine spinning in a circle will tear up a yard just liek a wheeled machine you just wont be as apt to leave impressions/ruts like you do with a wheeled machine in softer dirt nor spin as much unless the grass is really wet and you are trying to dig then all bets are off

 

[scoutcub]

I was in the same position years ago, had a compact but wanted/needed a more capable machine. Ive operated gehls and JD in the past, many years ago. Settled in on a Cat 289C with hi& standard flow, it was a great machine. Since then have upgraded to a 299DXHP which is the biggest out there...a very capable machine. I have the rotary mowers and forestry mulcher i use to keep my property cleared. Also been moving a lot of dirt gravel logs stumps, etc. Love the pilot controls of Cat. With AC heat and the electric coupler it makes life a lot easier...lol. i would highly recommend the Cat tracked machines. Any more specific q"s ask away....

 

[Industrial Toys]

Not a great fan of JCB, but I do like the side door arrangement. Also made in a slightly higher quality version sold by VOLVO. If I had to get one, and since I am getting older, I would probably go that route. Also made in a telehandler type tracked version.

 

[jcbGM]

Not a great fan of JCB, but I do like the side door arrangement. Also made in a slightly higher quality version sold by VOLVO. If I had to get one, and since I am getting older, I would probably go that route. Also made in a telehandler type tracked version.

I know this is old, but man, I love the internet. Why do you think the Volvo version is higher quality? They are both made on the same JCB assembly line in Pooler GA. You’ll see alternating colors going down the assembly line. They are the EXACT same machine except for decals and paint color.

 

[4570Man]

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dont be disillusioned by a CTL not tearing up a yard, they will tear up a yard just liek a wheel machine - you have to make wide sweeping turns with either to keep from making more damage, a tracked machine spinning in a circle will tear up a yard just liek a wheeled machine you just wont be as apt to leave impressions/ruts like you do with a wheeled machine in softer dirt nor spin as much unless the grass is really wet and you are trying to dig then all bets are
off

A skid steer destroys the ground with wheels or tracks. Even making sweeping turns the the 95 I was using was bad to peel the grass. That one of the 3 main reasons I now own a M59 vs keeping my 310 and adding a 75 skid steer.